Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



upper rear projection.

Nrrnn. STATES ArieNr rieten@ WILLIAM MORGENSTERN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND WM. P. WILSTAOH, OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADIG FIRE-ARMS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 48,] 33, dated June 6, 1865.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Beit known that I ,WILLIAM M oRGENsrERN, of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Breech -Loading Fire-Arm, and and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in making a simple, economical, and safe breech-loading fire-arm, which can be opened by cooking the hammer, but the breech or recoil block can be closed or pushed home without disturbing such position of the hammer, and which can be brought afterward to half-cock, if desired.

Figure l is a vertical axial section through the arm, or that part of it shown. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 an elevation of the right-hand side of the breech-block.

In the drawings, A represents the barrel; B, the frame which secures stock or butt and barrel together; C, the breech-block; D, the cock or hammer; E, the trigger, and N the fixed recoil-seat.

The hammer is placed on a pin, G, which entersit with a square shoulder, (see dotted lines, Fig. 2,) passing through both cheeks of the frame. This pin carries a cam or lever, H, firmly secured to it by a screw or otherwise.

Behind the rear opening of the barrel a central longitudinal slot is cut, in which the breech-block rests, closing the rear end of the barrel rmly and serving as a recoil-block. This is capable of an upward and backward motion, as also the reverse. It is slotted centrally, as seen at I, and has a cam-lever, J, hung in it capable of a forward motion, as indicated by arrow a. It is held in a vertical position by means of a spring, k, bearing on an It will be seen it is only capable of rotation in one direction; and its lower end. rests in a shallow seat just in rear of the front end of the cam-lever H. The spring 7c, which is in the top of the slot I, extends backward and downward, as seen at l, and when the breech-block is in its seat this spring bears against the recoil-seat N, serving to retain it in place.

L is a cartridge-retractor, operated by the movement of the breech-block. M is the mainspring, having a swivel-connection with the lower part of cam-lever H, which serves the purpose of the tumbler and which engages with the trigger. O is a spring acting on the trigger E to throw it forward.

The operation ofthe arm is as follows, (Figs. l

1 and 2 showing it in its normal position, hammer down, supposing it also not to be loaded z) By taking hold the top or head of the hammer and pulling backward, the same as is usually donein cockinga piece, the cam-lever H, pressing against the front lower end of swinging cam J, raises the breech-block and pushes it backward, its rear end riding over the recoilseat N, as seen in red lines, Fig. 1. This movement carries back the retractor L, which is ready to have the cartridge placed on its front part, L', just in front of the ange, and the ball entering the breech or bore of the barrel.

The two cams are now so far clear ot' each other that with the thumb or hand the breech-block can be pushed forward into its seat and the hammer will remain at a cock-the arm ready to be red. The hammer can be put down to half-coek,if desired, and cocked again without disturbing the breech-block. In pulling trigger, however, and firing, the cam -lever H strikes against swinging cam J, pushing it forward and passing it, the spring k bringing the latter to its normal position. By repeating this operation the breech is opened and the cartridge-shell drawn out, and can be emptied or taken out. It' the retraction be done quickly, the action of the breech-block on the retractor is such that the latter will be tilted, its front end brought up a little, and, acting as a springlever, will throw the shell out of its seatout of the gun. This is a very desirable thing to accomplish.

On the right-hand side of the frame, at its rear end, is inserted a pin, b, which enters a guidin g-slot, c, on theright-hand side of breechblock, thus controlling or regulating the movement of the rear end ot' the same, an upward as well as a backward one. The front end of this block, however, makes a simple lon gitudinal movement, regulated by a pin, d, on the left-hand side and front end of it, which enters a straight slot, c, on the inside of the lefthand cheek of the frame. (See dotted lines, Fig. l.) The cartridge is exploded by the nose of the hammer reaching the flange of the cartridge through a hole, f, in the front part of the breech-block, orit may strike an intermediate sliding pin, which can transmit the blow.

Havin g described in yinvention, what I claim as new, and desire t0 secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. Raising the rear of the movable breech from its engagement and retracting it by means of the tumbler-lever H, operated by the harnmer in the act of cooking.

2. The lifting and retraeting lever H and the tumbler in one piece.

3. The swinging cam or lever J, constructed y WILLIAM MORGENSTERN.

Witnesses:

S. S. FAHNESTOCK, J oHN S. HOLLINGSHEAD. 

